Improvement in horseshoes



M. H. WILCOX.

HORSESBOE. No. 180,442, Patented Aug.1,1876.

WSW I -m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MYROhlH. WIL'COX, OF GHILLIOOTHE, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF PART OF HIS RIGHT TO J. J. ORIBBS AND J. S. FUNK, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSESHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 80,442, dated August 1, 1876; application filed J une 23, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, M. H. WILCOX, of Chillicothe, in the county of Livingston and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horseshoes and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such .as will enable others skilled in the art to spring, 6. The part a of the shoe has a projection or flange, g, projecting over the top of the spring from its rear edge, while on the under side of the shoe, by means of the same pivot that holds the two parts a 0 together, is secureda flat plate, h, which also projects back over the spring, as shown. Near the heel ends of each of the pieces a c is made a horizontal mortise or hole, i, into which the outwardly-turned ends 1 of the spring 6 catch. By means of the two projections and these holes the spring is held securely in position at all times, and the foot protected from it.

It will be noticed that the spring is attached to-the shoe only at or near the heels, the common center being a point equally distant from the terminal points of the arms of the shoe. A horse, in drawing heavy loads, strikes first the toe of the foot upon the ground, and then settles back to the heel, and the lateral pressure on the foot increases from the toe to the heel, and thus it will be seen that myshoe is made to conform to the anatomy of the foot.

The peculiar form of the spring here shown I avoids pushing the shoe either forward or back.

I am aware that a jointed shoe provided with a spring is not new,per s6, and this I disclaim. All of these shoes, however, have only one object in view, and that is a forcible expansion of the hoof. Were their springs applied to the shoe in a proper manner the object would be properly accomplished but all of them are so applied as to spread the hoof at. the toe as well as the heel,'and thus defeat the very object for which they are intended. My spring conforms to the inside edge of the shoe, and exerts its power upon the heels alone.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In a horseshoe, the combination of the two parts a c, pivoted together at the toe, spring 0, which conforms to the shape of the foot, flange g, andcalk h, substantially as shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of June, 1876.

MYRON H. WILOOX. Witnesses:

E. S. POINDEXTER, WM. T. DIXON. 

